Downing Street visit a real Barack to the future moment

I wonder how many people felt a pang of nostalgia as they saw the pictures of Barack Obama striding down Downing Street to pay a courtesy visit” to the prime minister. It’s the correct description. God, we miss him.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Just for a fleeting moment, don’t you find yourself thinking about how much better the world would be now with Obama in charge – and not his aged understudy? At 62, he is the youngest living former president – and by some margin more youthful in every way than Joe Biden and Donald Trump (whose childishness doesn’t count).

Age isn’t everything (and ageism is an evil) – but the point is that Obama was an inspirational, articulate and principled figure who will probably still be so when he reaches his ninth decade. It is, indeed, an uncomfortable reminder of the “Hobson’s choice” that the American people find themselves presented with come November.

Obama might be slightly greyer now than when he was in office, but this graceful, elegant and courteous statesman is well remembered as a friend to Britain – and someone who enjoyed an especially warm rapport with the late Queen Elizabeth.